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02/16/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From: Doug Richie, DPM
Regarding the advice about prevention of pickleball injuries given by Dr. Udell, I have two questions for him:
1. How do you warm up after playing?
2. What is a "twisted muscle"?
As a Fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and active pickleball player myself, I would love to know the answers to these questions.
Doug Richie, DPM, Long Beach, CA
Other messages in this thread:
01/08/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE) - PART 2
From: Joel Feder, DPM
In response to Dr. Hoffman’s opinions on barefoot running, I consider that advice nutritious. My family ate much better from the fees I earned by treating barefoot runners.
Joel Feder, DPM (Retired), Sarasota, FL
01/08/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE) - PART 1
From: Keith L. Gurnick, DPM
I was a competitive distance runner in track and cross country in high school and continued to train and run and race for many years after. The protective benefits of training and running in appropriate, well designed and properly fitted running shoes outweighs barefoot running. Even with the tremendous improvements in shoes, injuries including overuse, acute traumas, repetitive trauma will always occur. That is the nature of the running sport and how athletes do their best to get in shape, stay in shape or try to improve and excel, in all genders and all age groups.
Every year, over 300 million pairs of athletic shoes are sold worldwide, and every year many brands come out with new colors and updates that do not meaningfully change the shoe but do promote consumption. Nike is the most popular sneaker brand among U.S. consumers, with two thirds of respondents who know the brand actually liking it. Adidas also enjoys a significant preference but lags behind Nike. Converse, New Balance, and Sketchers follow some way behind.
Keith L. Gurnick, DPM, Los Angeles, CA
12/11/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE) - PART 1C
From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM
As to Dr. Smith's assertions regarding statins and Achilles injuries, the science is not that solid. Here is what a Google AI result states: "Yes, there's a noted link between statin use and Achilles tendon problems (tendinopathy/rupture), with case reports highlighting severe issues, though large population studies show mixed results, some finding a slight increased risk, while others finding no causal link, suggesting other factors like age, diabetes, or combined meds play a role. Tendon issues often resolve when statins are stopped, and symptoms usually appear early in treatment, prompting physicians to monitor patients for pain or weakness."
Since we all know there are multiple factors that can lead to Achilles injuries, like age, health, weight, and body conditioning, I am not sure how these were figured into the suggestion that statins are a significant risk.
Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL
12/11/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE) - PART 1B
From: Ron Werter, DPM
I wonder where Dr. Smith gets his data from that he claims that statins cause diabetes and lowers testosterone and estrogen. According to most cardiologists, the data shows a 5% increase in muscular pain at higher doses. Nothing in legitimate peer-reviewed journals speaks about statins causing diabetes or hormonal disturbances. Most articles speak about statins reducing vascular inflammation and reducing cardiovascular pathology.
As a cardiologist friend of mine said many years ago when asked about the early thought that lipitor causes cataracts, it’s easier to treat cataracts than to treat death.
Ron Werter, DPM, NY, NY
12/11/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE) - PART 1A
From: Carl Solomon, DPM
Dr. Smith, thank you for sounding the alarm. As testimony to your comments, I can describe my own very recent experience. For over 6 months, I've had increasing connective tissue pain unrelated to overuse, stiffness, rotator cuff problems, a hamstrings strain from simply drying off after a shower, then a biceps tendon rupture. There was an obvious predisposition to these injuries due to something systemic. I reviewed my meds with my internist and we decided to do a 3-month holiday from rosuvastatin. My symptoms gradually subsided to the point I was pain-free after only 3 weeks. The biceps rupture us healing on its own.
If you do a PubMed search for keywords "statin", "tendonopathy", "rotator cuff", "rupture", etc., you'll find a wealth of articles in well-respected peer-reviewed the journals that describe this.
Carl Solomon, DPM, Dallas, TX
12/10/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From: Gary S Smith, DPM
I have noticed a large increase in the incidence of Achilles tendon injuries, rotator cuff, and anterior and posterior tibial ruptures in people on statins.
I think the incidence of tendon injuries has risen with the prescriptions of statins. They are given out like candy now as if they have no side-effects. Stains cause diabetes, low testosterone/estrogen, and have been linked to dementia. You should keep a mental note of your patients who get these tendon ruptures while on statins. If you do an MRI, you see all their tendons will be inflamed.
Gary S Smith, DPM, Bradford, PA
12/09/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From: Lancing Malusky, DPM
I can heartily agree with Dr. Parthasarathy. My wife, at age 64, suffered an Achilles rupture during an indoor school gymnasium pickleball game!.
Lancing Malusky, DPM, Lancing Malusky, DPM
08/12/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
RE: Kudos to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
From: Michael Levi, DPM
I’ve been so lucky and honored to treat Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the 400 meter hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, for many years. She is an amazing athlete and more of an impressive person. I’m in awe of her performances. I know she will be just as successful in Los Angeles come 2028. We as podiatrists play an integral role in treating athletes and again it’s an honor to participate in her care.
Michael Levi, DPM, Santa Monica, CA
02/22/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From: Joel Feder, DPM
I'm sure Dr. Shaper did not mean to have a finger's length of room at the toe box of an athletic shoe. Unless she likes to treat tripping injuries.
Joel Feder, DPM, Sarasota, FL
02/19/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
Over the years, Dr. Richie and I have not seen eye-to-eye on a host of issues with the exception that I do dispense Richie Braces. One area that we also agree on is the need for more clarity on warm-up and cool-down exercises in pickleball. Not being a certified trainer or physical therapist, it would be best to recommend that if Dr. Richie or anyone of us is interested in warm-up and cool-down exercises for pickleball, or any sport, it is advisable to either Google warm-up and cool-down exercises or go directly to YouTube. There is a wealth of good videos on warm-up and cool-down exercises available just on pickleball and taught by pros.
As an aside, way before I was in podiatry, I did training with the hopes of becoming a jockey. I spent many hours at Monticello raceway cooling down the thoroughbred horses after their daily workouts. What is good for them is good for us.
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY
02/15/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
Dr. McLean is correct. One does not have to look too far to see how Pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in America. Numerous television commercials advertising a wide range of products depict people of all ages having fun playing pickleball. I too enjoy this sport.
The problem is that people are overdoing it, especially senior citizens. Being that it is a competitive sport, people might jump, twist, and do what is beyond their physical capacity to win a point. The best advice we can give to our patients is to warm up before and after playing. Most senior citizens would not consider skiing down a mountain for the first time or jumping into a rough basketball game with teenagers .The bottom line is that anyone, young or old, who is not in the prime of his or her physical fitness, should choose to "lose a point" rather than twist a muscle or break a bone by overdoing it.
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY
09/21/2023
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE) -PART 1 B
From: Joe Boylan, DPM
My local community is in a debate regarding installation of another ball field with artificial surface or using natural grass. Dr. McLean states, “The studies are beginning to accumulate …” against the use of artificial surfaces due to higher incidence of injury. If these published or preliminary studies exist, could anyone cite where I can find them?
Joe Boylan, DPM, Ridgewood, NJ
09/21/2023
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE) - PART 1 A
From: Jeffrey Klirsfeld, DPM
Regarding Aaron Rodger’s injury or any lower extremity injury, we as podiatrists almost need a lesson in field engineering. My son went to Penn State University (PSU). PSU had a major in turf and field composition. When we see our sports injuries, we need to ask the patients what field, type of field, shoe, etc. is being used. I wonder if he was practicing on a natural field and then went to the stadium turf field. I know Lambeau field was bluegrass natural. Was he not familiar enough with the turf? Who knows but I guess we need to educate our patients on that matter from shoes to biomechanics on turf to natural fields.
Jeffrey Klirsfeld, DPM, Levittown, NY
09/18/2023
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From John Throckmorton, DPM
As a former podiatric sports medicine consultant with a Division One college team. I did witness a higher percentage of lower extremity injuries on turf surfaces than on natural grass. The velocity players can achieve is quicker and faster on turf. I feel this contributes to the higher and more severe type of injuries. We all know that the further down the lower legs, the biomechanics (physics) greatly increases and is concentrated into the ankle and foot, which goes from a mobile adaptor to a ridge lever!
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL biomechanics specialists will continue to examine the causes of injuries to determine which surface is better. He wants to follow the science. That makes sense! However, science data is objective data. Athletes are each biomechanically different! One can never be 100% accurate using objective data on subjective humans. DNA rules.
John Throckmorton, DPM, Moorseville, NC
11/28/2022
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From: David Secord, DPM
I submit the following two articles which make the topic of stretching before exercise a bit less clear cut.
David Secord, DPM, McAllen, TX
06/14/2022
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From: Mark Spier, DPM
I agree that Rafael Nadal's grand slam performance has been incredible. I understand that his foot condition has been incredibly painful for a long time, and that must create problems for him both on and off the tennis court. He, however, gets local anesthetic injections prior to playing actual matches, so he is not playing through any pain while anesthetized. Ethically, I have some concerns about playing while numb as that seems to be an invitation for additional damage. I wish him the best of luck but...I am a huge Novak Djokovic fan.
Mark Spier, DPM, Reisterstown, MD
02/11/2021
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS AND SPORTS MEDICINE)
From: Wenjay Sung, DPM
Congratulations to Dr. Howard Liebeskind and the LA Lakers for their 2020 season, and thank you PM News for reminding the profession about the value top podiatrists can offer elite professional athletes. Hoping we can hear about the Tampa Bucs' podiatrist, soon. Kudos.
Wenjay Sung, DPM, Arcadia, CA
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